Bay Area Local Foods - A Transition Town Site

Friday, June 26, 2009

If you're unemployed, searching for a job, or some way to make a living during these touch economic times, consider this:

From: WIRED - January 2007

The Coming Organic Crisis

The US consumes far more pesticide-free food than it produces.

Americans are gaga for organic grub - but the nation's farmers can't meet burgeoning demand. The US already imports more than 10 percent of the organic food we eat according to the Department of Agriculture, and as corporations like Wal-Mart bring organics to the masses, rising demand will continue to put pressure on supply. That means those premium prices on chemical-free foods are unlikely to plummet any time soon. Until more producers alter their practices, get used to shelling out $3 for a dozen organic eggs.

Figures are most current available. Sources: Nutrition Business Journal, Organic Monitor, Organic Trade Association. Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture

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http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20090506/nf1

U.S. organic food sales surge 16% in 2008, despite economic slowdown

Despite predictions of a slump in organic demand due to economic distress in the consumer sector, sales of organic food in the U.S. grew by 15.8 percent in 2008.

“Organic products represent value to consumers, who have shown continued resilience in seeking out these products. This marks another milestone for the organic food market,” according to Christine Bushway, executive director of the Organic Trade Association.

US sales of organic food have surged despite dire predictions for its resilience as consumers look for ways to cut spending, according to a new survey on American organics. During 2008, sales were up 15.8 percent on the year before, according to a survey carried out by the Lieberman Research Group on behalf of the Organic Trade Association (OTA). Predictions for organic product sales have been gloomy, with market researchers foreseeing a slump in more pricy goods, including organic food. But this has not been the case, the OTA said. OTA’s executive director Christine Bushway said: “Organic products represent value to consumers, who have shown continued resilience in seeking out these products.This marks another milestone for the organic food market.”

This view echoes a host of other studies carried out recently by market researchers looking into the importance of consumers’ perception of value, suggesting that the concept encompasses quality as well as price.

This latest survey found that organic food accounted for about 3.5 percent of US food sales last year, with a total value of $22.9bn. Additionally, organic food sales grew at a much faster rate than general US food sales, which grew by 4.9 percent during the year – or about a third as much as organics.

Global contrast

The findings stand in contrast to global organic market reports, which have pointed to a freeze on growth in the organic food sector. Mintel, for example, has predicted “slowing but steady growth” in the years ahead, while the UK organic sector experienced a sober 1.7 percent growth rate during 2008 as British consumers switched to cheaper organics, according to a report from UK organic organization The Soil Association. It said it was cheered by even this rate of growth, however, as it suggested that consumers would still prefer to buy organics, rather than conventionally produced products.

Organic sales breakdown

In the US, fruit and vegetables still represent the biggest sub-sector of organic food sales at 37 percent, followed by beverage and dairy at 14 percent each. Areas of fastest growth include the organic beverage sector, which grew by 40 percent in 2008, and organic breads and grains, which achieved 35 percent growth over the year.

The OTA research comes just weeks after the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would be conducting its own survey of the organic sector from a farming perspective, the first large-scale national survey of its kind. USDA’s results are due to be published in the coming winter.

U.S. sales of organic food and non-food products reached $24.6 billion in 2008, growing 17.1 percent over 2007 sales, despite tough economic times, according to a new study by the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

The 2009 Organic Industry Survey, conducted by Lieberman Research Group on behalf of OTA, measured the growth of U.S. sales of organic foods and beverages, and non-food products such as organic fibers, personal care products and pet foods in 2008.

Key findings show that organic food sales grew in 2008 by 15.8 percent to reach $22.9 billion, while organic non-food sales grew by 39.4 percent to reach $1.648 billion. These growth rates indicate that organic sales are growing faster than the rate of growth for conventional food products. Although still a small percentage of all food sales, organic sales account for approximately 3.5 percent of all food product sales in the United States, according to the study.

This is in contrast to two earlier studies. Market research firm NPD Group reported that the number of people buying organic products fell 4 percent in August 2008, compared with 2007. A survey conducted by Information Resources in late 2008 revealed that nearly half of respondents said they were purchasing fewer organic products because they were too expensive.

The OTA study also finds that the fruit and vegetable category accounts for the largest portion of organic food sales, representing 37 percent of total organic food sales in 2008. The second largest categories are beverage and dairy, representing just over 14 percent each. The strongest growth in 2008 is in the categories of breads and grains (35 percent over 2007) and beverages (40 percent).

The Express companion-shopped at several Bay area popular markets, and found that the Berkeley Bowl is the winner in both price and quality, and that several other popular markets are as high-priced as a chain store.

About 50 acres on three separate parcels located on Cache Creek in a Capay Valley hamlet called Rumsey. Celso and his uncle, Sergio bought the farm three years ago. Celso had worked for the previous owner for several years and had apprenticed previously at Full Belly Farms.

All produce is certified organic and over the course of a year includes a mind-boggling array of vegetables. In the ground currently are over 20 different varieties including four different types of chard. At the Market in January, their offerings included beets, kale, bok choy, salad mixes, leeks oranges, butternut squash and broccoli rabe

Sells at only two Farmers Markets, the Grand Lake on Saturday and Marin on Sunday. The balance of the week is spent on deliveries to restaurants including Chez Panisse. In addition, they drop off weekly food boxes for subscribers at different locations including one in Oakland and one on Grand Avenue just over the Piedmont line.Distributes to San Francisco, San Rafael, Mill Valley, Oakland, Davis, Sacramento

Raves about their recipe archive: http://www.wintercreekgardens.com/recipe.html

Full Belly Farm - about an hour NW of Sacramento in the Capay Valley. (Guinda) 530-787-3187; www.fullbellyfarm.comDistributes to Berkeley, Oakland, San Jose, Palo Alto, Davis/Sacramento

+ San Rafael

Choose between weekly and bi-weekly pick-ups.

Farm Fresh To You - Capay (Yolo) but drop off here - BIG

800-796-6009; www.farmfreshtoyou.comDistributes to San Francisco, East Bay, Marin, South Bay

San Francisco Bay Area Local Foods

Welcome! This is a Transition Town site. What would you do if suddenly trucks did not have the fuel to deliver food to your local market? How would you manage?

But why wait for the transition? In the San Francisco Bay Area we are rich in great food markets, but we also have a wealth of Farmers Markets, and local food growers. Whether you turn to them now for freshness and variety, or at some time later, this site will present information on this wonderful resource.